Hinging device of a leaf on its frame



Oct. 3, 1967 R. NEUMEISTER I 3,344,455

HINGING DEVICE OF A LEAF 0N ITS FRAME Filed March 10, 1965 INVENTOR Rolf NEUMEISTER United States Patent O 3,344,465 HINGlNG DEVKIE OF A LEAF ON ITS FRAME Rolf Neumeister, Grand-Laney, Geneva, Switzerland, as-

signor of one-third to Arthur Marguelisch, Geneva, Switzeriand Filed Mar. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 438,631 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Mar. 13, 1964, 4,106/ 64 9 Claims. (Cl. 16147) The present invention relates to a hinging device of a leaf on its frame, allowing to rotate the leaf around at least two different axes.

Some devices of this type are known, in which the leaf is hinged on a stationary frame by means of several hinges, means being provided for permitting to slip away the pins of a pair of hinges or of any other, in order to keep the articulation on only one of the said pairs, arranged either vertically or horizontally, according as the leaf has to be opened around a vertical axis or on the contrary to be rotated around a horizontal axis coinciding with its upper edge or with its lower edge.

One of the drawbacks of such arrangements lies in the fact that the hinging device of the leaf on its stationary frame has to comprise as many pairs of hinges as there are different axes around which the leaf is to be rotated. This renders the as and complicates the control device acting on the pins of the hinges for bringing them into their working position or into their inoperative position.

The object of the present invention is to remove these drawbacks.

The device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least three ball-and-socket joints, the ball or socket element being carried by the leaf and the other by the frame, each joint being arranged at a corner of the said leaf and frame, the center of each of the balls being situated on the bisecting line of the said corner, means being provided for permitting to displace one of the elements of each of the said ball-and-socket joints on its support, in order to separate from each other the two elements of the said joints, such that, when only two of the said joints have their elements in engagement one with another, the rotation of the leaf can be effected around the geometrical axis passing through the center of the balls of these two joints.

The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a window the leaf of which is hinged on the frame by means of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially broken away of a detail of the device on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this detail, along line III-III of FIG. 1, at an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part of this detail, and,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another detail, along line VV of FIG. 1, also on an enlarged scale.

The window represented comprises a leaf constituted by a metallic movable frame 1 carrying a pane 2, mounted on a stationary metallic frame 3.

The hinging of the leaf on the stationary frame 3 comprises four ball-and-socket joints 4, arranged at the four corners of the frame and of the leaf, and each comprising a spherical ball 5, constituting the male element of the joint, secured to the frame 1 by a bent rod 6, and a spherical hollow socket 7, the recess 8 of which, constituting the female element of the joint is movably mounted on the frame 3. The center of each of the balls 5 is situated on the bisecting line of one of the corners of the leaf and of the frame 3; the direction of displacement of the sockets 7 of each joint coincides with the said bisecting lines.

3,344,465 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 Owing to the fact that the sockets of each ball-andsocket joints are movable, each joint can occupy two positions, one in which its two elements are in engagement one with another, and the other in which its two elements are separated one from the other. When the leaf is maintained in its closed position, the four ball-and-socket joints have their elements engaged with another, thus ensuring the closing of the leaf, while, when the leaf has to be opened, only two joints, which are adjacent, have their elements engaged one with another, so that the leaf can rotate around the geometrical axis passing through the center of the balls of these two joints.

The control of the displacements of the movable elements 7 of the ball-and-socket joints is obtained by the following mechanism: The stationary frame 3 carries, each situated in the neighborhood of one of its corners, four rotatable axles 9, on each of which are keyed a pinion 10 and a cam 11. An endless chain 12 passes over the four pinions 10 as Well as over a control pinion 13 rotatably mounted on the frame 3.

Each socket 7 is carried by a bracket 14 movably mounted in an opening 15 provided in the upper wall of the frame 3. Each bracket 14 is guided by a rod 16 the axis of which coincides with the bisecting line of the corner of the frame 3. A return coil spring 17 is mounted on each rod 16 and bears on the one hand against the lateral Wall of the frame 3 and on the other hand against the bracket 14, so as to maintain an extension 14a of the bracket 14 bearing on the cam 11. As it will be explained later, each cam 11 is provided with one or two recesses 18 (FIGS. 2 and 4). When the extension 14a of the bracket 14 is situated opposite a recess 18, the bracket 14, and the socket 7 carried thereby, are then in the position represented in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, in which the two elements of the ball-and-socket joint are separated one from the other; when, on the contrary, the extension 14a of the bracket 14 is in contact with the remainder of the periphery of the cam 11, the bracket 14 and the socket 7 carried thereby are moved towards the left in FIG. 3, until the socket 7 receives the spherical ball 5.

The pinion 13 is driven by means of a crank-handle 19 rotatably mounted on a lug 1a of the frame 1 of the leaf. When this latter is closed, bearing on the stationary frame 3, a square extension 19a of the crank-handle 19 engages a hole 20, of a corresponding shape, provided in a sleeve 21 rigid with the pinion 13. In this closed position of the leaf, the rotation of the crank-handle 19 drives the pinion 13 and, consequently, the chain 12. If, on the contrary, the leaf is open or merely slightly separated from the stationary frame 3, the square extension 19a of the crank-handle 19 is out of engagement with the sleeve 21, and the pinion 13 cannot be operated. This arrrangement prevents improper operation of the device which would occur if the position of the movable elements of the ball-and-socket joints could be modified while the leaf is open.

It is to be noted that a locking device constituted by a resilient blade 22, carried by the lug 1a of the frame 1, engaging a toothing of a gear 23, rigid with the crankhandle 19, prevents this latter from being rotated when the leaf is open. When it is closed, the edge, designated by 21a, of the sleeve 21, acts on the blade 22 for disengaging it from the toothed gear 23 and thus freeing the crank-handle 19.

Owing to the present device, the leaf 1 can be opened as desired around a vertical axis, for instance the geometrical vertical axis 24 (FIG. 1), or around one or the other of the geometrical horizontal axes 25 and 26, these different axes passing through the centers of the balls of two adjacent joints.

It is to be noted that the rods 6 of the balls each comprise a section 6a coinciding with the geometrical axis passing through the center of the associated ball and that of one of the adjacent joints. Owing to this arrangement, the amplitude of the rotation of the leaf, when it rotates around one of the axes coinciding with sections 6:: of the rods 6, can reach about 180; this is especially useful when the leaf has to be opened around the vertical axis 24.

The relative position of the cams with respect to each other, as well as with respect to the square recess 20 of the sleeve 21, will be chosen in such a way that, when the crank-handle is directed towards the left in FIG. 1,

for instance, the four ball-and-socket joints have their elements engaged with one with another, the leaf being then maintained closed; when the crank-handle is directed downwards, the two upper joints have their elements separated one from the other, so that the rotation of the leaf around the horizontal axis 26 can occur. When the crank-handle is directed towards the right, the two left joints are disengaged, the rotation of the leaf taking place around the vertical axis 24; at last, when the crank-handle is directed upwardly, the two lower joints are disconnected, the rotation taking place around the horizontal axis 25. In this position, the leaf is suspended from the two upper joints, the ball 4 of which cannot separate from the spherical recesses 8, owing to the obliquity of the axes of the sockets.

It is to be noted that since it is not provided to rotate the leaf around two different vertical axes, but on the contrary around only one, i.e. the axis 24, the two rig-ht joints of FIG. 1 have to be disconnected, each, only in one position of the cycle, i.e. respectively for the rotation around one or the other of the horizontal axes 2'5 and 26. Thus, the control cam 11 of each of these two joints has to be provided with only one recess 18.

As a modification, the device can comprise onl three ball-and-socket joints.

Also as a modification, the balls could be carried by the stationary frame, the sockets being carried by the leaf; also, the movable element of the joints could be carried by the leaf, the stationary elements being carried by the frame. This arrangement would be less favorable since it would need to mount the control mechanism of the movable elements, ie the pinions 18, the cams 11, and the control chain 12, on the leaf instead of on the stationary frame.

At last, it is to be noted that the present device not only produces the hinging of the leaf on its frame, but also ensures the closing of the leaf.

What I claim is:

1. In a hinging device of a leaf on frame, permitting rotation of said leaf around at least two different axes, at least three joints each including a ball element and a corresponding integral socket element, said elements being engaged by partial insertion of the ball element in the socket element and disengaged by withdrawal of the ball element from the socket element, said ball element being freely removable from and engageable with the socket element solely by relative linear displacement therewith, one of said elements being carried by the leaf and the other by the frame, each joint being arranged at a corner of the said leaf and frame, the center of each ball element being situated on the bisecting line of one of the said corners, and means whereby one of the said elements of said joints is linearly displaceable as a unit relative to the other element of the joint so that the said two elements of each joint can be selectively separated one from the other, such that, when only two of the said joints have their elements in engagement, the rotation of the leaf can be effected around the geometrical axis passing through the center of the ball elements of the said two joints.

2. In a hinging device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball elements of the joints are carried by the leaf and the socket elements by the frames, said means whereby one of the elements of the joints is linearly displaceable comprising a displaceable support for each of the elements which is displaceable, and means for acting on each said support for selectively displacing the same along the corresponding bisecting line of the associated corner whereby the corresponding ball element and socket element are selectively engaged and disengaged by entry of the ball element into the socket element and withdrawal of the ball element from the socket element.

3. In a hin-ging device as claimed in claim 2, connecting rods through which the said ball elements are secured to the said leaf, each rod of two vertically aligned joints having a section coinciding with the geometrical axis passing through the centers of the two ball elements of the said aligned joints.

4. In a hinging device as claimed in claim 2, connecting rods through which the said ball elements are secured to the said leaf, each rod of two horizontally aligned joints having a section extending parallel to the geometrical axis passing through the centers of the two ball elements of the said aligned joints.

5. In a hin-ging device of a leaf on a frame, permitting rotation of said leaf around at least two different axes, four joints each including a ball element and a corresponding integral socket element, said elements being engaged by partial insertion of the ball element in the socket element and disengaged by withdrawal of the ball element from the socket element, said ball element being freely removable from and engageable with the socket element solely by relative linear displacement therebetween, one of the elements being carried by the leaf and the other by the frame, each joint being arranged at a corner of the said leaf and frame, the center of each ball element being situated on the bisecting line of one of the said corners, and means whereby one of the said elements of each of the joints is linearly displaceable as a unit relative to the other element of the joint so that the said two elements of each joint can be selectively separated one from the other, such that, when all the said joints have their elements in engagement with one another, the leaf is held in its closed position, while when only two adjacent joints have their elements in engagement with one another, the rotation of the leaf can be effected around the geometrical axis passing through the center of the ball elements of the said two adjacent joints.

6. In a hinging device of a leaf member on a supporting frame member, permitting rotation of said leaf around at least two different axes, four joints having ball and socket elements, one of the ball and socket elements being carried by the leaf member and the other by the frame member, each joint being arranged at a corner of the said leaf member and frame member, the center of each ball being situated on the bisecting line of one of the said corners, means whereby one of the said elements of each of the said ball and socket joints is movable, and a control means supported by the member which carries the movable elements of the ball and socket joints, said control means comprising four pinions rotatably mounted each at a corner of the said supporting element, an endless chain passing over said pinions for rotating them simultaneously, four cams each rigid with one of the said pinions, and four springs urging each one of the said movable elements of the said ball and socket joints against one of the said cams, whereby the rotation of the said cam produces the displacement of the said movable elements of the said joints and permits to bring them into one or the other of two positions, one in which the two elements of the joints are in engagement one with another and the other in which the two elements of the joints are separated one from the other, such that, when all the said joints have their elements in engagement one with another, the leaf is held in its closed position, while when only two adjacent of the said joints have their elements meshing one with another,

the rotation of the leaf can be effected around the geometrical axis passing through the center of the balls of the said two adjacent joints.

7. In a hinging device as claimed in claim 6, in which the shape of at least a part of the said cams is such that, for two angular positions of the cam, the movable elements of the joints are separated from the other element thereof, while for all the other angular positions of the cam, the elements of the joints are in engagement one with another.

8. In a hinging device as claimed in claim 6, a control crank-handle, which is carried by one of the said members while the said control mechanism is supported by the other member, and a coupling device between said control crank-handle and said control mechanism, such that the operative connection between the said crankhandle and the said mechanism is produced only when the leaf is in its closed position, so as to prevent operation of the control mechanism when the leaf is open.

9. In a hinging device as claimed in claim 6, a control crank-handle, which is carried by one of the said members while the said control mechanism is supported by the other member, a coupling device between said control crank-handle and said control mechanism, such that the operative connection between the said crankhandle and the said mechanism is produced only when the leaf is in its closed position, so as to prevent operation of the control mechanism when the leaf is open, and a locking mechanism acting on the said crank-handle when the said leaf is open, for preventing the said crankhandle from rotating when it is not coupled with the said control mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,008,177 11/1961 Wooten 16147 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HINGING DEVICE OF A LEAF ON FRAME, PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID LEAF AROUND AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT AXES, AT LEAST THREE JOINTS EACH INCLUDING A BALL ELEMENT AND A CORRESPONDING INTEGRAL SOCKET ELEMENT, SAID ELEMENTS BEING ENGAGED BY PARTIAL INSERTION OF THE BALL ELEMENT IN THE SOCKET ELEMENT AND DISENGAGED BY WITHDRAWAL OF THE BALL ELEMENT FROM THE SOCKET ELEMENT, SAID BALL ELEMENT BEING FREELY REMOVABLE FROM AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SOCKET ELEMENT SOLELY BY RELATIVE LINEAR DISPLACEMENT THEREWITH, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING CARRIED BY THE LEAF AND THE OTHER BY THE FRAME, EACH JOINT BEING ARRANGED AT A CORNER OF THE SAID LEAF AND FRAME, THE CENTER OF EACH BALL ELEMENT BEING SITUATED ON THE BISECTING LINE OF ONE OF THE SAID CORNERS, AND MEANS WHEREBY ONE OF THE SAID ELEMENTS OF SAID JOINTS IN LINEARLY DISPLACEABLE AS A UNIT RELATIVE TO THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THE JOINT SO THAT THE SAID TWO ELEMENTS OF EACH JOINT CAN BE SELECTIVELY SEPARATED ONE FROM THE OTHER, SUCH THAT, WHEN ONLY TWO OF THE SAID JOINTS HAVE THEIR ELEMENTS IN ENGAGEMENT, THE ROTATION OF THE LEAF CAN BE EFFECTED AROUND THE GOEMETRICAL AXIS PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE BALL ELEMENTS OF THE SAID TWO JOINTS. 